Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips
Proverbs 10:18 - Timeless words of wisdom for the age of social media
“Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips and spreads slander is a fool.”
Proverbs 10:18 NIV
Those who have hatred in their hearts love to hide their motivation behind lies. While social media platforms are filled with hatred, very few of the people who are spreading that hate will admit that they’re haters. Instead, they love to cover up their burning hate with excuses — lies — usually blaming the targets of their venom for their own shortcomings.
From two hundred years ago, we have this commentary from Adam Clarke on the first part of this verse:
“This is a common case. How many, when full of resentment, and deadly hatred, meditating revenge and cruelty, and sometimes even murder, have pretended that they thought nothing of the injury they had sustained; had passed by the insult, etc.! Thus lying lips covered the malevolence of a wicked heart.”1
These lies come in the form of slander — a malicious, false, and defamatory statement or report. In this proverb, Solomon refers to the hate-filled slanderer as a fool, and he’s absolutely correct! Only a person foolish enough to not believe in God would think that he or she could get away with spreading lies. God knows everything and He will judge righteously!
There are some other ways of looking at this verse, which shines a spotlight on the spiritual and moral peril of concealing hatred. Hiding one’s hatred is contradictory to Scripture. For example, from Leviticus 19:17-18:
““ ‘Do not hate a fellow Israelite in your heart. Rebuke your neighbor frankly so you will not share in their guilt. “ ‘Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.”
How can this be translated to social media? Don’t hate someone for something they have posted that is contradictory to your beliefs. Instead, rebuke them gently (show that you don’t like an opinion, but you respect that person’s right to have a contrary opinion) and back up your words with proven facts with sources, quote an appropriate Bible verse in response, or (yes, I know this will be shocking) just scroll on and don’t say anything! For quite a few years, I’ve tried to scroll by those posts I find personally distasteful, and if someone who is a “friend” continues to post their venom, I will stop following them.
Hiding one’s hatred is lying, since you are showing the world a false image of yourself being a peaceful and loving person. Instead of hating that person, “love your neighbor as yourself”.
I’m hoping that none of you are thinking, “OK, if concealing my hatred is bad, then I won’t conceal it — I’ll give that person a piece of my mind!” That’s not the point. Sure, you can be angry with someone — even Jesus showed His righteous anger towards the teachers of the Law and Pharisees (see almost all of Matthew 23 as an example), and cleared the temple courts of money changers and vendors (Mark 11:15-16). But that anger should be tempered with love and a desire for the truth.
I’ll close this devotional with a set of five teaching points regarding Proverb 10:18 that were published in Bible Hub:
Guard Your Heart
Concealing hatred can lead to deceitful speech. As Christians, we are called to examine our hearts and root out bitterness and hatred.
The Power of Words
Words have the power to build up or destroy. We must be mindful of our speech, ensuring it reflects truth and love.
Avoid Slander
Slander is not only harmful to others but also reveals foolishness in the speaker. We should strive to speak words that honor God and uplift others.
Seek Wisdom
Proverbs consistently contrasts the wise and the foolish. Seeking God's wisdom helps us to speak and act in ways that are pleasing to Him.
Accountability
Recognize that our words have consequences. We are accountable to God for what we say, and we should strive to speak truthfully and lovingly.
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Gracious God, Search our hearts and cleanse us from hidden hatred. Help us to walk in truth and love, not concealing bitterness or spreading harm through our words. Teach us to speak with grace and to confront our struggles with honesty before You. Guard our lips, Lord, that we may honor You in all we say, and bring peace where there is discord. In Jesus’ name, AMEN.
Scripture quotations taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica US, Inc.®. Used by permission.
Commentary quotations from Enduring Word are used with the written permission of the author
BibleHub was accessed on April 12, 2025 for commentary on Proverbs 10:18
Clarke, Adam "Clarke's Commentary: The Holy Bible Containing the Old and New Testaments with a Commentary and Critical Notes" Volume 3 (Job-Song of Solomon) (New York: Eaton and Mains, 1827)